Drug delivery system and method

ABSTRACT

A drug delivery system can include a cylindrical structure extending in a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of an electrically conductive material. The cylindrical structure can include multiple electrodes extending laterally on the substrate at respective longitudinal locations. The electrodes each have an electrical resistance small enough to conduct current laterally along the substrate without heating the cylindrical structure. The cylindrical structure can include at least one substrate portion extending longitudinally between a respective pair of electrodes. Each substrate portion can have an electrical resistance high enough to conduct current longitudinally between the electrodes and resistively heat the respective substrate portion in response to the current conducted therethrough. A dose of a drug can be disposed on each substrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas in response to the resistive heating of the respective substrate portion.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/938,577, entitled “METHODS AND DEVICES USING CANNABIS VAPORS”, filedon Feb. 11, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/058,431,entitled “DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD”, filed on Oct. 1, 2014, eachof which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/264,999, entitled “METHODS AND DEVICES USING CANNABISVAPORS”, filed on Apr. 29, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/938,577, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to methods and devices using cannabis,and more particularly, to methods of purifying at least one of THC andCBD from cannabis to create drug delivery products containing THC orCBD.

BACKGROUND

Cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana, is a naturally occurring plantwith at least two well-known pharmacologically active components,tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). When ingested, THC andCBD can provide numerous benefits and can be used, for example, toalleviate pain, muscle spasticity and in the treatment of nauseaassociated with chemotherapy.

Smoking of the cannabis material is a common form of THC and CBDingestion. However, while THC and CBD are released by smoking,combustion of the cannabis material can also release many toxicsubstances such as ammonia and hydrogen cyanide that can cause damage ifingested. Ingestion of foods laced with cannabis material can deliverTHC and CBD to the body. However, any other undesirable materials in thecannabis are also ingested and the dosage of THC and CBD can beinconsistent and hard to determine.

Isolation and purification of THC and CBD from cannabis can be of greatinterest and benefit to the medical community. A way to purify THC andCBD from cannabis and convert the purified THC and CBD into aneasily-ingestible form is desired.

GOALS OF THE INVENTION

There is an opportunity for a drug delivery product that allows forinhalation of at least one of THC and CBD without inhaling otherundesirable components found in raw cannabis or created by burning theraw cannabis. The amount and purity of THC or CBD in the drug deliveryproduct can be controlled for dosage. The drug delivery product can beformed using a separation and coating process, as described herein, thatfacilitates controlled deposition of THC or CBD onto a substrate to formthe drug delivery product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The at least one present invention is directed to methods for purifyingtetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) from cannabis plantmaterial; providing substrates containing or incorporating the purifiedTHC and CBD; and providing apparatuses for delivery of at least one ofTHC and CBD to patients and consumers.

In a first aspect of the invention, the method is directed to controlledvolatilization of at least one of THC and CBD from preferably comminutedcannabis plant material and absorption, deposition, adsorption orotherwise condensing the volatilized THC or CBD or both on a substrateheld at a temperature to assure capture of the volatilized THC, CBD orboth.

A second aspect of the invention is directed to the substrate withdeposited THC, CBD or both. The substrate with THC, CBD or both isconstructed and configured to enable release of the THC, CBD or bothupon controlled heating. This aspect can include controlled release ofthe THC, CBD or both so as to provide regulated, controlled, limiteddoses of THC, CBD or both over time. In a third aspect of the invention,the substrate with deposited THC, CBD or both is converted into a drugdelivery cartridge. The drug delivery cartridge can be used with acontrollable heating element to volatilize and inhale the THC, CBD orboth.

A third aspect of the invention is directed to a drug delivery systemwhich can include a drug delivery cartridge formed from a substratedescribed above. In an example, the drug delivery cartridge can includea cylindrical structure extending in a longitudinal direction and formedfrom an electrically conductive material. The cylindrical structure caninclude multiple electrodes extending laterally across the substrate atrespective longitudinal locations. Each of the electrodes has anelectrical resistance small enough to conduct current laterally alongthe substrate without heating the cylindrical structure. The cylindricalstructure can include at least one substrate portion extendinglongitudinally between a respective pair of electrodes. Each substrateportion can have an electrical resistance high enough to conduct currentlongitudinally between the electrodes and resistively heat therespective substrate portion in response to the current conductedtherethrough. A dose of a drug can be disposed on each substrate portionand configured to volatilize into a gas in response to the resistiveheating of the respective substrate portion.

This Summary is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of thepresent patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusiveor exhaustive explanation of the invention. The Detailed Description isincluded to provide further information about the present patentapplication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, butnot by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the presentdocument.

FIG. 1A is a side view of an example of a drug coated substrate inaccordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 1B is a top view of the drug coated substrate of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a process for making a drugdelivery cartridge in accordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 3 is an example of a heating chamber for creating a coatedsubstrate in accordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 4 is an example of a heating chamber having a continuous substratecoating process in accordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 5 is an example of a heating chamber having a double-sided,continuous substrate coating process in accordance with the presentpatent application.

FIG. 6 is an example of a heating chamber having a double-sided,continuous substrate coating process with a source material feed systemin accordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 7A is an example of a drug coated substrate in accordance with thepresent patent application.

FIG. 7B is a cross-section view of the drug coated substrate of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is an example of a drug delivery cartridge formed from the drugcoated substrate of FIG. 7A, in accordance with the present patentapplication.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example of a process to construct a drugdelivery cartridge having a spirally wound cylindrical shape, inaccordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 9 is an example of a drug delivery cartridge in accordance with thepresent patent application.

FIG. 10 is an example of a drug delivery cartridge having multiplelayers of coated substrates, in accordance with the present patentapplication.

FIG. 11 is an example of a drug delivery cartridge having multiplelayers of coated substrates, in accordance with the present patentapplication.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an example of a process to construct adrug delivery cartridge in accordance with the present patentapplication.

FIG. 13A is a top view of an example of a polygonal drug deliverycartridge in accordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the polygonal drug delivery cartridgeof FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13C is a side view of the coated substrate of the drug deliverycartridge of FIGS. 13A and 13B prior to forming the polygonal shape.

FIG. 13D is a cross-section view of the drug delivery cartridge of FIGS.13A and 13B as assembled from the coated substrate shown in FIG. 13C.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an example of a process to construct apolygonal drug delivery cartridge in accordance with the present patentapplication.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of an example of a multi-layer substratein accordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an example of a process used to make adrug delivery cartridge having two or more layers, in accordance withthe present patent application.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an example of a drug delivery systemhaving a drug delivery cartridge in combination with a drug deliverydevice, in accordance with the present patent application.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a cylindrically rolled sheet, which can besuitable for use with a drug delivery system.

FIG. 19 shows a cross-section of the rolled sheet of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 shows the cross-section of the rolled sheet from FIG. 19, withthe addition of an optional plurality of electrically insulating spacerspositioned to space apart adjacent rolls of the rolled sheet.

FIG. 21 shows another example of a cylindrically rolled sheet.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show an example of a drug delivery system.

FIG. 24 is a side-view schematic drawing of another example of a drugdelivery system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application relates to methods of purifying at least one ofTHC and CBD from cannabis-containing compositions by heating thecannabis-containing compositions to vaporize at least one of THC and CBDand condensing the vapor onto a substrate to form a coated substratecomprising at least one of THC and CBD. The coated substrates can beconverted into various three-dimensional structures configured for useas a drug delivery cartridge. The drug delivery cartridge can be heatedup and air can pass through the cartridge, thus volatilizing the THC orCBD in the drug delivery cartridge such that the user can inhale the THCor CBD for a medicinal or therapeutic effect. The purity and ratios ofTHC and CBD in the drug delivery cartridge can be controlled based onthe desired composition, and the quantities of THC and CBD can becontrolled based on the desired dosage. Based on the process used toform the coated substrates, undesirable components in the cannabis arenot included in the drug delivery cartridge. The drug deliverycartridges described herein can be used with various types of drugdelivery devices to aid in inhalation of the THC or CBD.

The drug delivery cartridge can be a cylindrical structure extending ina longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of an electricallyconductive material. Electrodes can extend laterally across thesubstrate at respective longitudinal locations. The electrodes can eachhave an electrical resistance small enough to conduct current laterallyalong the substrate without heating the cylindrical structure. One ormore substrate portions can have an electrical resistance sufficient toconduct current longitudinally between the electrodes and resistivelyheat the substrate portions. THC and/or CBD can be disposed on the oneor more substrate portions and configured to volatilize in response tothe resistive heating of the substrate portions. The cylindricalstructure or other type of drug delivery cartridge can be used invarious types of drug delivery systems.

As used herein, volatilize or volatilization can refer to vaporizationof a component from a starting phase, either a liquid or a solid, to agas phase. In an example, one or more components described herein maystart as a solid and be heated such that the one or more componentsvaporize. The one or more components may transition directly from thesolid to the gas phase, a sublimation process, or the one or morecomponents may become a liquid and then vaporize to a gas. In anexample, the one or more components described herein may be in a liquidform prior to heating. FIGS. 1A and 1B show side and top views of anexample of a drug coated substrate 100 of the present disclosure. Thedrug coated substrate 100 can include a substrate component 110 ontowhich a drug component 120 can be deposited. The drug coated substrate100 can be exposed to heated air 130, and the drug component 120 can bevolatilized and entrained in the heated air 130 to form a heat releaseddrug or HRD 140. The HRD 140 can then be ingested by a user to induce amedicinal or therapeutic effect on the user.

The substrate component 110 can be constructed from any naturallyoccurring material or any man-made material, such as an FDA-approvedpolymer for the delivery of drugs, or any combination ofnaturally-occurring or man-made materials. The material selected for thesubstrate component 110 is inert at the heating temperatures describedbelow for forming the coating on the substrate and the heatingtemperatures for later inhaling the one or more drug components from thecoated substrate. In an example, the substrate component 110, caninclude, but is not limited to, materials where the substrate component110 can be elastic, flexible, resilient, permanently deformable orplastically deformable.

In an example, the substrate component 110 can assume the form of anythree dimensional structure, including, but not limited to, a sheet, amesh, or any combination of three dimensional structures. Other types ofstructures can be employed without departing from the present subjectmatter. In an example, the substrate component 110 can be a sheet ofpolymer material. In an example, the substrate component 110 can be asheet of aluminum mesh, a sheet of solid aluminum or a combination ofboth aluminum mesh and aluminum sheet. As used herein, the term aluminumcan include all grades of aluminum and aluminum alloys. Materialssuitable for use as the substrate component 110 are also described belowin reference to FIG. 3.

As described further below, the substrate component 110 can be formedinto a variety of three-dimensional shapes to form a drug deliverycartridge. In an example, the drug delivery cartridge can be designed tomaximize the surface area of the drug component 120 exposed to the flowof heated air 130. In an example, the substrate component 110 can beshaped into forms including, but not limited to, a cone, a tube ortubular structure. As used here, a tubular structure can include anystructure with an open cross-sectional area shape, a closedcross-sectional area shape, or a combination of open and closedcross-sectional area shapes. In an example, the cross-sectional areashapes can include, but are not limited to, circles, ovals, ellipses,squares, rectangles or other polygonal shapes. In an example, thecross-sectional area shapes can be open or closed shapes. Other types ofstructures can be employed without departing from the present subjectmatter.

The drug component 120 can include any volatilizable chemical orchemicals present in a raw material or a man-made material. In anexample, the drug component 120 can include one or more activecomponents for medicinal purposes or therapeutic effect. In an example,the drug component 120 can include one or more chemicals found in rawcannabis, including tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as THC, orcannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD.

Cannabis material can exist in at least three distinct forms including,but not limited to, stem, resin (or hashish) and oil (or hash oil). Inan example, the stem can include raw cannabis components such as stalks,leaves and flowers. As used herein, raw cannabis can refer to cannabismaterial that has been harvested but is otherwise unprocessed. In anexample, the stem material can be shredded or chopped to increase thesurface area of the stem material in preparation for purification. In anexample, the resin can include kief, or the small particles of stemmaterial that can be separated from the stem material by mechanicalforces such as shaking. In an example, the kief can be compressed toform a solid for storage and later can be shredded or chopped toincrease the surface area of the kief in preparation for purification.In an example, the oil can be obtained by solvent extraction treatments.Multiple references are made herein to starting with raw cannabis; it isrecognized that any cannabis-containing composition can alternatively beused in the descriptions and examples below. Some of the processingsteps, such as the separation or purification step, may vary dependingon whether raw cannabis or an alternative form of a cannabis-containingcomposition is used.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a process 200 that can be used to form a drugdelivery product, also referred to herein as a drug delivery cartridge.In an example, the drug delivery product includes at least one of THCand CBD. In the process 200, a pre-processing step 210 can includereceiving source material, such as, for example, raw cannabis. In anexample, the pre-processing step 210 can include collection of rawmaterial from certified growers for use as source material and removalof undesirable organic and inorganic components from the sourcematerial. In an example, the source material can be a whole cannabisplant including the buds, leaves and stem.

A first inspection step 220 can include examination of the sourcematerial for general suitability in the process 200. In an example,source material that is diseased or not otherwise of a specified qualitycan be removed from the source material before further processing.

A source material preparation step 230 can further prepare the sourcematerial for later steps in the process 200. In an example, the sourcematerial preparation step 230 can include the use of equipment andmethods to increase the surface area of the source material, such as byshredding or chopping, to aid in a purification process.

A second inspection step 240 can include examination of source materialto ensure that the source material has been suitably processed. In anexample, source material that has been improperly shredded or choppedmay be rejected or redirected for further processing.

A purification and coating step 250 can include a process for separatingthe chemicals used to form the drug component 120 of FIG. 1 from thesource material. In an example, the source material is raw cannabis andthe one or more chemicals used to form the drug component 120 include atleast one of THC and CBD. The purification in step 250 can includeheating a cannabis-containing composition to volatilize at least one ofTHC and CBD from the cannabis-containing composition. Specific steps candepend on the form of the cannabis-containing composition. Under step250, the volatilized chemicals can then be condensed onto a carriermaterial to form a drug coated substrate. In an example, thecondensation of volatilized chemicals on a carrier material can bethrough absorption or adsorption of the volatilized chemicals.

A third inspection step 260 can include examination of the drug coatedsubstrate for coating uniformity or other predetermined parameters.

A first post-processing step 270 can include identification and handlingof the drug coated substrate. In an example, the drug coated substratecan be marked or labeled for quality assurance and material handlingpurposes, such as delivery of the drug coated substrate to inventory. Inan example, steps 260 and 270 can be skipped and the coated substratefrom step 250 can go directly to step 280 for converting.

A conversion step 280 can include transforming the drug coated substrateinto form factors convenient for consumption by an individual user. Inan example, the conversion step 280 can include converting the drugcoated substrate into segments and forming the segments into drugdelivery products or cartridges. In an example, the cartridge isconstructed to maximize the surface area of the drug coated substrateavailable for volatilization while minimizing packaging volume of thecartridge. In an example, the cartridge can be of a generally tubularform and assume any cross-sectional shape without altering the effect ofthe cartridge. In an example, the cross-section shape can include, butis not limited to, a circle, a square, a hexagon, a polygon or anysymmetric or non-symmetric cross-sectional profile. Other types ofshapes can be employed without departing from the present subjectmatter.

A fourth inspection step 285 can include examination of the cartridgesto ensure that the cartridges have been suitably processed. In anexample, the fourth inspection step 285 can include examination of theuser shapes for visual uniformity or other parameters.

A second post-processing step 290 can include packaging and labeling ofthe cartridges. In an example, each cartridge can be wrapped as anindividual unit. In an example, individual units can be labeled forquality assurance and governmental tax purposes.

In an example, all the aforementioned steps of the process 200 can besubject to standard manufacturing control techniques.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a heating chamber 300 of the presentdisclosure for use in a single sheet substrate coating process. Theheating chamber 300 can include a container box 310 and a containercover 320 that can be removably attached to the container box 310. Thecontainer box 310 can include an interior surface 312, an exteriorsurface 314 and a controlled heat source 316 located along an interiorsurface 312 of the container box 310. A removable tray 330 to contain asource material 332 can be located against an interior surface 312 ofthe container box 310. A removable screen 318 can be located in thecontainer box 310 between the removable tray 330 and the container cover320 to contain source material 332.

The container cover 320 can include a hinge 326 to attach the containercover 320 to the container box 310 and a cooling bar 322 to which asubstrate 324 can be located in close proximity or removably attached.In an example, the substrate 324 can be removably attached to thecooling bar 322 with clips or similar attachment aids.

The substrate 324 can be covered with a coating 328 of a drug componentusing, for example, a heating process. In an example, the drug componentcan include at least one of THC and CBD. The controlled heat source 316can be initiated to heat the source material 332 to a selectedtemperature. Depending on the selected temperature, one or morechemicals can volatilize from the source material 332. The substrate 324can be cooled through conduction (when in contact with the cooling bar322) or radiation (when located in close proximity to the cooling bar322) and the vapors generated during the heating process can condenseonto the substrate 324 to form a coating 328 on the substrate 324. In anexample, the one or more chemicals can be absorbed within the substrate324. In an example, the one or more chemicals can be adsorbed onto thesurface of the substrate 324. As used herein, a coated substrate 334 canrefer to a combination of the substrate 324 and the coating 328 formedthereon.

In an example, the heating chamber 300 can be used to extract THC andCBD in the cannabis-containing composition. Using the steps above, thedesirable components, THC and/or CBD, can be extracted and purified fromthe cannabis-containing composition by controlling the temperature inthe heating chamber. As described further below, various drug coatedsubstrates can be formed that have both THC and CBD, only THC, or onlyCBD, in purified form, and contain minimal to no undesirable components.

THC can volatilize in the heating chamber 300 before CBD based onvolatilization temperatures of THC and CBD. Depending on a temperaturethat the cannabis-containing composition is heated to, THC canvolatilize or THC and CBD can both volatilize. A rate of volatilizationof each of THC and CBD can depend, in part, on the heating temperatureand other conditions in the heating chamber 300, such as, for example,pressure. An exact temperature at which each of THC and CBD canvolatilize is not necessarily precisely known and can depend, forexample, on the surrounding conditions. In an example, a temperature ofapproximately 150-160° C. can be sufficient to volatilize THC and atemperature of approximately 180-200° C. can be sufficient to volatilizeCBD.

A composition of the coated substrate 334, including a purity of thedrug component, can be a function of the source material used in theheating process. In an example, the grade of cannabis used as the sourcematerial, such as the species and source of supply, can influence thecomposition of the coated substrate 334, including varying levels of THCand CBD. In an example, the pre-processing of the source material, suchas the size of particle resulting from shredding and chopping of thesource material, can influence the composition of the coated substrate334. In an example, sampling can be performed on the source material todetermine a composition of the source material. Specification parametersand standard processing control can be implemented for monitoring andcontrolling the composition of the source material and the coatedsubstrate 334.

The composition of the coated substrate 334 can be a function of thecontrol parameters used in the heating process. In an example, thetemperature of the chamber, the total time the source material isexposed to the temperature of the chamber and the temperature of thecooling bar 324 can influence the coated substrate 334. In an example,these and other process parameters can be under standard processingcontrol.

The substrate 324 can be constructed from any naturally-occurringmaterial or any man-made material, such as an FDA-approved polymer forthe delivery of drugs, or any combination of naturally-occurring orman-made materials.

The substrate 324 can be a pharmaceutically acceptable material orcombination of materials, including natural and/or synthetic materials,which can capture the one or more chemicals in the drug component, suchas, for example, THC or CBD. In an example, pharmaceutically acceptablematerials for the substrate can include, but are not limited to,cellulosic materials, synthetically altered cellulosic materials,synthetic polymers, natural polymers or any material approved forpharmaceutical use by the United States Food and Drug Administration(FDA). In an example, the materials can be porous, micro-porous,adsorptive, absorptive or include a combination of adsorptive andabsorptive properties. In an example, the substrate can be stable andnon-degrading at temperatures well above the volatilization temperaturesof THC and CBD. In an example, the substrate 324 can comprise analuminum or aluminum alloy.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a heating chamber 400 of the presentdisclosure for use in a continuous sheet substrate coating process. Theheating chamber 400 can include many of the same elements as the heatingchamber 300 of FIG. 3, but instead of being a patch process can includeadditional features to enable a continuous process. The container cover420 can include a roller take-up mechanism 424. In an example, theroller take-up mechanism 424 can include a source spool mechanism 425, areceiving spool mechanism 426 and a flexible substrate 427 extendingfrom the source spool mechanism 425 to the receiving spool mechanism 426and located in close proximity to the cooling bar 422. In an example,the source spool mechanism 425 can include a spindle and bearings tosupport the source spool and a motor attached to the source spool fortensioning of the flexible substrate 427. In an example, the receivingspool mechanism 426 can include a spindle and bearings to support thereceiving spool and a motor attached to the receiving spool to draw theflexible substrate 427 across the cooling bar 422. During the heatingprocess, the receiving spool mechanism 426 can draw the flexiblesubstrate 427 across the cooling bar 422 so that the one or morechemicals condenses on one side of the flexible substrate 427 to form acontinuous coating 432 on the flexible substrate 427.

In an example, the roller take-up mechanism 424 can be controlled toperform continuous deposition processing of the flexible substrate 427.In an example, the roller take-up mechanism 424 can be controlled toperform multi-batch deposition processing of the flexible substrate 427.Other designs can be used as an alternative to or in addition to themechanisms 424 and 426 for enabling a continuous process.

FIG. 5 shows an example heating chamber 500 of the present disclosurefor use in a double-sided, continuous sheet substrate coating process.The heating chamber 500 can include many of the same elements as theheating chambers 300 and 400 of FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. In anexample, after one side of the flexible substrate 527 has been coated ineither a multi-batch or continuous deposition process, the uncoated sideof the flexible substrate 527 can be subsequently coated by amulti-batch or continuous deposition process.

FIG. 6 shows an example heating chamber 600 of the present disclosurefor use in a double-sided, continuous sheet substrate coating processwith a continuous source material feed system. In an example, a screwconveyor 660 can move source material 634 into the container box 610 forheating and volatilization. In an example, the source material 634 canbe deposited into a hopper 670 to supply the screw conveyor 660.

In an example, any of the heating chambers described above can be partof a mobile process such that the purification and coating processes canbe done at or near the origin of the source material. In an example inwhich the source material is raw cannabis, the purification and coatingprocesses can be contained or stored within a transportation device suchthat these steps can be performed at or near where the raw cannabis isgrown.

In an example, a batch process similar to the heating chamber 300 ofFIG. 3 can be used to sample source material and determine itscomposition, to determine, for example, levels of THC and CBD in thesource material.

The heating chambers and processes described above in reference to FIGS.3-6 are an example of a separation process for separating one or morecomponents from the cannabis-containing composition. Other knownprocesses may be used, such as, for example, a fractional distillationprocess. The particular process used for separating the desiredcomponents from the source material can depend, in part, on thecomposition and form (solid, liquid, etc.) of the source material, thevolume of coated substrate to be produced, the time for production,technical expertise of the users, equipment availability and budget, andthe cost of implementation.

By starting with raw cannabis or a cannabis-containing composition, oneor more components can be extracted from the cannabis and purified byvolatilizing the one or more components and coating the one or morecomponents onto a substrate. Isolation and purity of the one or morecomponents can be controlled through the volatilization and coatingsteps. The coated substrate can include more than one coating layer. Inan example, a CBD rich layer can be coated over a THC rich layer. In anexample, a THC rich layer can be coated on one side of the substrate anda CBD rich layer can be coated on the other side of the substrate. In anexample, a CBD rich layer and minimal to no THC can be coated onto asubstrate. In an example, a THC rich layer and minimal to no CBD can becoated onto a substrate. In an example, multiple substrates, each havingone or more coating layers, can be used together to provide one or moredrug components.

In an example, the purification and coating processes described abovecan include replenishing or replacing the source material after a periodof time in order to vaporize an additional amount of the one or morecomponents. In an example, the purification and coating processesdescribed above can include processing the coated substrate into smallerpieces to increase a total surface area and then heating the pieces ofcoated substrate such that the at least one of THC and CBD in the coatedsubstrate are vaporized and then condensed onto a new substrate. Thiscan be used to further purify the at least one of THC and CBD in thecoated substrate and can be repeated until a desired purity of the atleast one of THC and CBD is achieved.

The heating chambers described above can be used to heat thecannabis-containing composition to any given temperature. The particulartemperature or temperature range selected can depend on multiplefactors, including, for example, a particular composition of the rawcannabis or the desired composition of the coated substrate. In anexample, the heating chamber can be configured to heat thecannabis-containing composition to a temperature ranging betweenapproximately 90-200° C. The temperature can be incrementally increasedstarting, for example, at approximately 50° C. In an example, a processfor forming the coated substrate can include such a step-wisetemperature increase, for example at increments of 10° C., usingfractional distillation. Samples can be collected of the vapors afterdeposition, at all or some of the temperature intervals, to analyze thefractions and determine the composition of the coating. Based on theresults, the temperature range sufficient for volatilization can bedetermined or adjusted based on the desired composition of the coating.It is recognized that the temperature range can depend on the startingmaterial and how tightly the composition of the coating is to becontrolled. The composition of the starting material can vary from batchto batch and can depend, for example, on where and how the raw cannabisis grown, and cleaning of the raw cannabis, or other preparation steps,prior to processing.

Given a differential of the volatilization temperatures of THC and CBD,different approaches can be used to isolate THC from CBD and vice-versa.In an example, the cannabis-containing composition can be heated toapproximately 150-160° C. to volatilize THC and form a coated substratethat is rich in THC. In an example, the cannabis-containing compositioncan be heated to a temperature of approximately 175-190° C. tovolatilize THC and CBD simultaneously. In such an example, a particularcomposition of the coated substrate obtained can depend, in part, on theexact temperature selected, as well as the starting ratios of THC andCBD in the cannabis-containing composition. It is recognized that othertemperature ranges can be used that are sufficient for volatilizing oneor both of THC and CBD.

In an example, if a coated substrate rich in CBD and not THC is desired,a two step process can be used. In a first step, the cannabis-containingcomposition can be heated to a first temperature sufficient tovolatilize THC, but little to no CBD. Thus the coating deposited on afirst substrate can be rich in THC. Depending on a length of heating inthe first step, little to no THC can remain in the cannabis-containingcomposition after the first step is complete. In a second step, thecannabis-containing composition can be heated to a second temperaturegreater than the first temperature and sufficient to volatilize CBD. CBDcan then be deposited onto a second substrate to form a coating rich inCBD. In other examples, the THC rich layer and the CBD rich layer can becoated as first and second coatings on a single substrate.

It may be desirable not to heat the cannabis-containing compositionabove a particular temperature in order to avoid volatilization of otherundesirable components in addition to THC and CBD that are present inand able to volatilize from the cannabis-containing composition. In anexample, a maximum heating temperature can be approximately 190-200° C.to avoid or minimize volatilization of these other components.

As described above, further processing can be performed on one or bothof the first and second coated substrates to further increase a purityof the CBD or THC in the coating. Depending on the particulartemperature selected, as well as the composition of the source materialand other conditions in the heating chamber, the coated substrate canhave varying ratios of THC to CBD.

An amount of the one or more drug components in the coated substratescan be determined as part of the process for forming the coatedsubstrate and the drug delivery cartridges described below. As describedabove, process control methods can be implemented to control, forexample, a thickness of the coating on the substrate. Based on samplingof the source material, a composition of the coating on the substratecan also be determined. Other known techniques can be used to determinea composition of the coating on the substrate. As such, an amount of theone or more drug components, such as, for example, THC and CBD, can bedetermined per unit area of the coated substrate. This can be used todetermine a surface area of the drug delivery cartridge if there is aspecified level of the one or more drug components in the drug deliverycartridge. Similarly, if the surface area of the drug delivery cartridgeis specified, the thickness of the coating on the substrate can beadjusted in order to meet a specified level of the one or more drugcomponents in the drug delivery cartridge. The methods described hereinfor forming the coated substrates and the drug delivery cartridges canbe used to effectively and accurately determine a composition and levelof the one or more drug components, which can be used for dosagecontrol.

Coated substrates as described herein containing one or more drugcomponents can be used to form a three-dimensional structure configuredfor use as a drug delivery product. In an example, a coated substratecan be used as a drug delivery cartridge in a delivery device. As usedherein, a drug delivery cartridge can refer to a replaceable element ina drug delivery system that is slowly depleted of one or more drugcomponents as a consequence of continued use or intervals of use. Thedrug delivery cartridge can be replaced for continued use of the drugdelivery system. In an example, drug delivery cartridges can be designedto maximize surface area exposed to an air flow while minimizing packagevolume.

Coated substrates can take many structural forms. In an example, coatedsubstrates can include, but are not limited to, cubes, cones,parallelepipeds, or other three-dimensional shapes. In an example, acoated substrate can be in the form of a sheet. As used herein, a sheetcan be any three-dimensional structure defined by a first dimension, asecond dimension and a third dimension where the first dimension is muchsmaller than the second and third dimensions. In an example, a sheet canbe generally rectangular in shape with a first end and a second endopposite the first end.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example of a drug coated substrate 700 of thepresent disclosure which can be formed using the techniques describedabove or generally known in the art for extracting and purifying one ormore drug components and coating the one or more drug components on asubstrate. The drug coated substrate 700 can include a substratecomponent 710, a drug component 720 coated on the substrate component710 and spacers 722 located on the substrate component 710 or the drugcomponent 720. In an example, the spacers 722 can be located on thesubstrate component 710 before the substrate component 710 is coated. Inan example, the spacers 722 can be located on the drug component 720after the substrate component 710 is coated.

FIG. 7C shows an example where the drug coated substrate 700 can beconverted into a three-dimensional structure configured for use as adrug delivery cartridge 702. In an example, the drug coated substrate700 can be rolled into a spirally wound cylindrical shape to form thedrug delivery cartridge 702. In an example, the plurality of spacers 722can be used as a structural element to maintain a channel 724 betweenlayers of the drug delivery cartridge 702 to allow for the passage ofheated air. The drug delivery cartridge 702 can include any number oflayers.

The drug delivery cartridge 702 can be used with a drug delivery device,an example of which is described below and shown in FIG. 17. In anexample, the drug delivery device can include, but is not limited to avaporizer, an e-cigarette, a bong or a water pipe. Alternatively, thedrug delivery cartridge 702 can be used by directly applying heated airto the drug delivery cartridge 702 to volatilize the drug from the drugdelivery cartridge 702. In an example, heated air can be directlyapplied to the drug delivery cartridge 702 by any heating process orheating device that can include, but is not limited to, an e-cigarette,a bong, a water pipe and a vaporizer device. In an example, heated aircan be directed through the channel 724 to volatilize the drug from thedrug delivery cartridge 702.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of an example process to construct a spirallywound cylindrical shape, similar to the cartridge 702 of FIG. 7C. In anexample, step 810 can include providing a supply of raw cannabis; step820 can include heating the raw cannabis to a first temperature torelease a first vapor; step 830 can include condensing the first vaporonto a substrate to create a coated substrate; step 840 can includeplacing spacers on the coated substrate to allow for airflow through thecartridge; step 850 can include rolling the coated substrate to form aspirally-wound cylindrical shape configured for use as a drug deliverycartridge.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a coated substrate shaped in a saw-tooth,zig-zag, or accordion configuration. In an example, the saw-tooth coatedsubstrate 900 includes a first coating 910 where the first coating 910can be one of THC or CBD. In an example, the saw-tooth coated substrate900 includes a second coating 920 where the coating 920 can be one ofTHC or CBD.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a two-substrate assembly 1070 where a firstsaw-tooth coated substrate 1035 and a second saw-tooth coated substrate1045 can be stacked for use as a drug delivery cartridge. In an example,a plurality of spacers 1022 can be used as structural elements tomaintain a plurality of channels 1024 between the first saw-tooth coatedsubstrate 1035 and the second saw-tooth coated substrate 1045 to allowfor the passage of heated air. In an example, the two-substrate assembly1070 can be stacked so that the first coating 1010 of the firstsaw-tooth coated substrate 1035 can face the second coating 1020 of thesecond saw-tooth coated substrate 1045. In an example, a plurality oftwo substrate assembly 1070 can be stacked for use as a drug deliverycartridge.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a two-substrate assembly 1170 where thefirst coating 1110 of a first saw-tooth coated substrate 1135 can facethe first coating 1110 of a second saw-tooth coated substrate 1145. Inan example, a plurality of two-substrate assembly 1170 can be stackedfor use as a drug delivery cartridge.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a process to construct a saw-toothed drugdelivery cartridge. In an example, step 1210 can include providing asupply of raw cannabis; step 1220 can include heating the raw cannabisto a first temperature to release a first vapor; step 1230 can includecondensing the first vapor onto a first side of a substrate; step 1240can include heating the raw cannabis to a second temperature to releasea second vapor; step 1250 can include condensing the second vapor onto asecond side of the substrate; step 1260 can include creating a pluralityof notches in the coated substrate; step 1270 can include articulatingthe segments to form a saw-tooth pattern and step 1280 can includestacking the substrate for use as a drug delivery cartridge. The processof FIG. 12 can be modified to incorporate the multiple substrateassemblies shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show top and side views, respectively, of an exampleof a polygonal drug delivery cartridge 1300. In an example, thecross-sectional shape of the polygonal drug delivery cartridge caninclude, but is not limited to, a three-side cross-section, a four-sidedcross-section or an “n”-sided cross-section where “n” can be any numberequal to or greater than 3.

FIG. 13C shows notches 1370 formed in the substrate 1310 and the coating1320 that can allow a segment 1375 to articulate with respect to anadjacent segment 1375. As used herein, a segment 1375 is the portion ofthe substrate 1310 and coating 1320 located between two notches 1370.FIG. 13D shows the drug delivery cartridge 1300 as assembled from thecoated substrate of FIG. 13C. FIG. 13D illustrates how each segment 1375of FIG. 13C is configured in the assembled cartridge 1300 and a notch1370 is located between each adjacent pair of segments 1375.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a process to construct a closed polygonalshaped drug delivery cartridge similar to the star-shaped cartridge 1300of FIG. 13. In an example, step 1410 can include providing a supply ofraw cannabis; step 1420 can include heating the raw cannabis to a firsttemperature to release a first vapor; step 1430 can include condensingthe first vapor onto a substrate to create a coated substrate; step 1440can include creating a plurality of notches and step 1450 can includearticulating the segments to form a saw-tooth pattern; and step 1460 caninclude connecting the first end to the second end to form a polygonalshape. In an example, step 1460 can include manipulating the segments toalign the segments in a desired orientation relative to one another.

Other shapes can be used for a drug delivery cartridge. Any of theexamples described and shown in FIGS. 7C, 9, 10, 11 and 13A-13C caninclude additional layers of substrate and each layer of substrate caninclude one or more coating layers. As stated above in reference to FIG.7C, the drug delivery cartridges described herein can be used alone orin combination with a drug delivery device. Each drug delivery cartridgecan be designed such that heated air can be passed through the cartridgeand one or more drug components can be volatilized and inhaled by auser.

Dimensions of any of the drug delivery cartridges described herein candepend, in part, on whether a drug delivery device is intended to beused with the cartridge and a particular design of the drug deliverydevice. These dimensions can include a length, width and overall shapeof the drug delivery cartridge and can depend on the length and width ofthe coated substrate used to form the drug delivery cartridge. Thedimensions of the drug delivery cartridge can also depend, in part, onan amount of the one or more drug components in the drug deliverycartridge and an intended dosage of the one or more drug components.

FIG. 15 shows a cross-section view of an example of an assembly 1500comprising multiple layers of coated substrates. In an example, anactive drug layer 1550 can include a substrate 1552 with a first surfaceand a second surface where a THC coating 1556 can be applied to thefirst surface and a CBD coating 1557 can be applied to the secondsurface. In an example, a taste layer 1560 can include a substrate 1562having a taste coating 1566 applied to the substrate 1562 to enhance theuser ingestion experience. In an example, the taste coating 1566 caninclude a flavoring that can include, but is not limited to, fresh mint.In an example, an enhancement layer 1570 can include a substrate 1572having an enhancement coating 1576 applied to the substrate 1572 wherethe enhancement coating 1576 can include at least a second compound thatcan augment the therapeutic effect of the THC or CBD. In an example, thesecond compound can include, for example, an opiate. In an example, anamelioration layer 1580 can include a substrate 1582 having anamelioration coating 1586 applied to the substrate 1582 where theamelioration coating 1586 can include at least a third compound that canminimize any undesirable side effects of THC or CBD, if applicable. Inan example, the active drug layer 1550, the taste layer 1560, theenhancement layer 1570 and the amelioration layer 1580 can be assembledtogether or in any permutation. In an example, the assembly 1500 can beconverted into a three-dimensional structure for use as a drug deliverycartridge as described above. In other examples, an assembly can includeany number and combination of layers depending on desired properties ofthe assembly. In an example, spacers similar to the spacers 722 shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B can be placed between each layer prior to forming thethree-dimensional structure to allow for the passage of air between thelayers.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a process used to make a drug deliverycartridge where the coated substrate includes two or more layers whereat least one provides flavor or enhancement. In an example, step 1610can include providing a supply of raw cannabis; step 1620 can includeheating the raw cannabis to a first temperature to release a firstvapor; step 1630 can include condensing the first vapor onto a substrateto create a coated substrate; step 1640 can include attaching one ormore layers to the coated substrate where the one or more layers provideat least one of flavor or enhancement of the at least one of THC andCBD, and step 1650 can include converting the substrate into athree-dimensional structure for use as a drug delivery cartridge. In anexample, an additional step can be performed between steps 1630 and 1640which can include heating the raw cannabis to a second temperature torelease a second vapor, thus creating a second coating on the coatedsubstrate, as described above.

As described above in reference to the coated substrates, a compositionand amount of the one or more drug components in the drug deliverycartridge can be determined and controlled, which can be used for dosagecontrol of the drug(s). In an example, the drug delivery cartridges cancontain a predetermined quantity of THC or CBD and can be designed assingle dosage or multi-dosage cartridges. Using the control parametersdescribed above, a quantity of THC or CBD in the drug delivery cartridgecan vary depending, for example, on the intended use of the THC or CBD.

A drug delivery cartridge can cooperate with a drug delivery device thatsupplies a volatilizing heat source to deliver the one or more drugcomponents in the drug delivery cartridge to a user. In an example, thedrug delivery device can include, but is not limited to, an e-cigarette,a bong, a water pipe and a vaporizer.

FIG. 17 shows a drug delivery system 1700, which can include a drugdelivery cartridge 1750 in combination with an example of a drugdelivery device, an electronic pipe 1702. The electronic pipe 1702 caninclude a heating element 1710 with an opening 1715 sized and shaped toreceive the drug delivery cartridge 1750, a power unit 1717, an airintake 1720, a moisturizing and cooling chamber 1730, a mouthpiece 1740,a cover 1760, a power switch 1762 and a digital readout 1764.

The heating element 1710 can heat the drug delivery cartridge 1750 to aspecified temperature. In an example, the heating element 1710 canpre-heat the drug delivery cartridge 1750 to a temperature less than avolatizing temperature of the drug delivery cartridge 1750 so that thedrug delivery cartridge 1750 can readily volatize the coated surface onuser demand. In an example, the heating element 1710 can heat the drugdelivery cartridge 1750 to a temperature greater than or equal to avolatizing temperature of the one or more drug components to volatizethe drug component(s) for delivery of the volatized drug on user demand.

The air intake 1720 provides makeup air to the electronic pipe 1702. Inan example, the air intake 1720 can be a hole located in the electronicpipe 1702 in communication with the opening 1715, the moisturizing andcooling chamber 1730 and the mouthpiece 1740. In an example, the airintake 1720 can allow makeup air to flow into the electronic pipe 1702when a user induces a negative pressure (or suction) action at themouthpiece 1740.

The cover 1760 can prevent users from contacting the heating element1710 during operation of the electronic pipe 1702. In an example, thecover 1760 removably attaches to the electronic pipe 1702 to preventloss of the drug delivery cartridge 1750 during use.

The power switch 1762 controls the flow of electrical power from a powerunit 1717 to the heating element 1710. In an example, electrical powercan flow from the power unit 1717 to the heating element 1710 when thepower switch 1762 is in an ‘on’ position. In an example, electricalpower can be prevented from flowing from the power unit 1717 to theheating element 1710 when the power switch 1762 is in an ‘off’ position.

The drug delivery cartridge 1750 can be used with the electronic pipe1702 to deliver a predetermined and accurate quantity of volatized drugto a user. As described above, the amount of the one or more drugcomponents in the cartridge 1750 can be controlled and thus known. Thecartridge 1750 can be a single dose cartridge or intended for use overmultiple doses. In an example, a user can remove the cover 1760 from theelectronic pipe 1702 and insert a drug delivery cartridge 1750 into theopening 1715. In an example, the user can removably attach the cover1760 to the electronic pipe 1702 before adjusting the power switch 1862to the ‘on’ position in order to preheat the drug delivery cartridge1750. In an example, the user can monitor the digital display 1764 for avisual cue that indicates that the electronic pipe 1702 is ready foruse.

A drug delivery device can be configured to control the dosage of thedrug to the user such that a multi-dose cartridge can be used with thedrug delivery device, while still maintaining dosage control. Forexample, a drug delivery device similar to the electronic pipe 1702 canbe configured to deliver a predetermined amount of drug per inhalation.

The drug delivery device can control how much air passes through thedrug delivery cartridge and how much air is delivered to the user. In anexample, a valve device inserted into the air flow of the drug deliverydevice can be used to control the volume of air available to the user.For example, the valve device can be located in the mouthpiece of a drugdelivery device to throttle the volume of air flowing through themouthpiece. In an example, the valve device can include, but is notlimited to, a flapper valve, a ball valve, a gate valve, a butterflyvalve, a duckbill valve or an adjustable orifice.

In an example, the valve device can include a timer device that cancause the valve device to open or close after an interval of time toregulate air flow through the drug delivery device. For example, thevalve device can include an open-loop timer device utilizing mechanismssuch as a spring or a mechanical linkage to open or close the valvedevice. In another example, the valve device can include a closed-looptimer device using an actuator, an electrical control circuit and one ormore feedback sensors to implement a control algorithm to open and closethe valve.

The drug delivery device can also control other parameters that impactthe amount of drug(s) delivered to the user, including, for example, atemperature that the cartridge is heated to and the rate of airflow.Because the drug delivery cartridge only contains the desiredcomponents, for example, CBD or THC, which have already been separatedfrom the undesirable components in the source material, sufficient heatcan be applied to the drug delivery cartridge to quickly vaporize thedrug(s) without worrying about the undesirable components also beingvaporized.

The drug delivery cartridge can be configured to control the amount ordose of drug delivered. In an example, the drug delivery cartridge canbe coated with a micro porous film to control the flow of drug vaporfrom the drug delivery cartridge. For example, the diameter of the poresin the micro porous film applied to the coated substrate can be sized tocontrol the dose of drug delivered. In an example, the coated substrateused to form a drug delivery cartridge can be coated with a micro porousfilm to control the flow of drug vapor from the coated substrate andthereafter formed into a drug delivery cartridge.

In an example, the drug delivery cartridge can be constructed from acoated substrate comprising a conductive material. In an example, theconductive material can include, but is not limited to, aluminum. In anexample, an electrical power circuit can be connected to the conductivematerial to resistively heat the conductive material to a temperaturesufficient to volatilize the drug on the coated substrate. In anexample, the electrical power circuit can include an electrical controlcircuit and one or more feedback sensors to resistively heat theconductive material to a sufficient temperature and thereafteraccurately maintain the temperature over a period of time.

In an example, the drug delivery cartridges described herein can be usedwith a vaporizer. The vaporizer can be configured to include a chamberor receptacle that the drug delivery cartridge can be placed in. Thedrug delivery cartridge can be configured as a single dose or multi-dosecartridge. Given the control parameters that can be used in the processof making the drug delivery cartridge, the drug delivery cartridge caninclude a known quantity of the drug component(s). As similarly statedabove, a heating temperature of the vaporizer is not a significantconcern because the drug delivery cartridge only includes the desiredcomponents and the substrate used in forming the drug delivery cartridgecan be inert at these operating temperatures.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a cylindrically rolled sheet 1802, which canbe suitable for use as a drug delivery cartridge with a drug deliverysystem. The term cylindrical, as used herein, is intended to mean thatthe cross-sectional shape of the rolled sheet is the same at eachlongitudinal location along the rolled sheet 1802. For instance, thecross-section itself can be a circle, a spiral, a curve that lacks sharpcorners, a curve that includes at least one sharp corner, a combinationof curved and straight portions, a polygon, a square, a star shape, andother suitable shapes. In some examples, the cylindrically rolled sheetcan form a tunnel structure that can support air flow therethrough. Therolled sheet 1802 of FIG. 18 is but one example of a cylindricalstructure for use as a drug delivery cartridge. As described below, acylindrical closed-end structure, such as a tube or a star canalternatively be used.

As described above and shown in the figures, any suitable shape can beused for the drug delivery cartridge, and the shape and design is notlimited to the examples described and shown herein. As described above,the drug delivery cartridge can be cylindrical such that thecross-sectional shape is the same at each longitudinal location. Inother examples, non-cylindrical designs can be used in which thecross-sectional shape varies longitudinally. In other examples, the drugdelivery cartridge can be further converted to have a shape configuredfor use with different drug delivery systems. Further converting caninclude, for example, shaping a cylindrical structure into a J or an Sfor use in a pipe.

Referring back to FIG. 18, the rolled sheet 1802 includes a substrate1803, which can be formed from an electrically conductive material, suchas aluminum, copper, or another suitable metal or metal alloy. Therolled sheet 1802 is shaped to allow a gaseous flow in its interior,along the longitudinal direction (Z), from a first longitudinal end 1826to a second longitudinal end 1828 opposite the first longitudinal end1826. As further described below, all or a portion of the substrate 1803can be covered with a coating of a drug component. As described above,in some examples, the drug component can include at least one of THC andCBD. One or both sides of the substrate 1803 can include the drugcoating.

The rolled sheet 1802 can include a first electrode 1804 extendinglaterally (X) across the substrate 1803 at a first longitudinal location1806. In some examples, the first electrode 1804 can be formed integralto the substrate 1803 to form the rolled sheet 1802, for example, byextruding the electrode 1804 onto the substrate 1803. In those examples,the first electrode 1804 can be thicker relative to the substrate 1803.In some examples, the first electrode 1804 can be originally separatefrom the substrate 1803 and attached to the substrate 1803, so that thefirst electrode 1804 is electrically coupled to the substrate 1803 toform the rolled sheet 1802. This is described further below. In someexamples, the first electrode 1804 can extend outward from the rolledsheet 1802, toward an exterior of the rolled sheet 1802. In otherexamples, the first electrode 1804 can extend inward from the rolledsheet 1802, toward an interior of the rolled sheet 1802. In still otherexamples, the first electrode 1804 can extend both outward and inwardfrom the rolled sheet 1802.

The first electrode 1804 can be formed from an electrically conductivematerial and can be formed from the same or a different material thanthe substrate 1803. Example materials include, but are not limited to,aluminum, copper, or another suitable metal or metal alloy. Theparticular material selected can depend in part on whether the firstelectrode 1804 is integral to or separate from the substrate 1803. Thefirst electrode 1804 can act a contact portion for use within a housingof a drug delivery system having corresponding electrodes, as describedfurther below.

In an example in which the first electrode 1804 is separate from thesubstrate 1803, the first electrode 1804 can be made of steel and weldedto the substrate 1803 to form the rolled sheet 1802. In such an example,the steel material can optionally be formed or provided as a coiledspring which can be straightened out to weld the material to thesubstrate and then the material can coil back up as the substrate 1803is rolled to form the rolled sheet 1802. Other materials and otherassembly methods can be used to form the rolled sheet 1802 out of thesubstrate 1803 and first electrode 1804.

The rolled sheet 1802 can also include a second electrode 1808 extendinglaterally (X) across the rolled sheet 1802 at a second longitudinallocation 1810. The second electrode 1808 can be similar to the firstelectrode 1804 and have the properties described above. The first andsecond electrodes 1804, 1808 can each have an electrical resistancesmall enough to conduct current laterally (X) along the rolled sheet1802 without heating the rolled sheet 1802. The second electrode 1808can also be formed as a thick portion of the rolled sheet 1802, orformed separately from the rolled sheet 1802 and attached to the rolledsheet 1802, as described above with reference to the first electrode1804.

The rolled sheet 1802 can include a first substrate portion 1812extending longitudinally (Z) between the first and second electrodes1804, 1808. The first substrate portion 1812 can have an electricalresistance high enough to conduct current longitudinally (Z) between thefirst and second electrodes 1804, 1808 and resistively heat the firstsubstrate portion 1812 in response to the current conductedtherethrough.

A first dose 1814 of a drug can be disposed on the first substrateportion 1812 of the substrate 1803 and configured to volatilize into agas in response to the resistive heating of the first substrate portion1812. In some examples, the first dose 1814 of the drug can be uniformlycoated on the first substrate portion 1812. In other examples, the firstdose 1814 of the drug can include one or more discrete pieces of drugmaterial adhered to the first substrate portion 1812. In some examples,the drug can include THC. In some examples, the drug can include CBD. Insome examples, the drug can include a combination of THC and CBD, asdescribed in detail above. In other examples, other suitable drugs canalso be used. In some examples, the drug can be coated on an exteriorside of the substrate 1803 in the area identified as the first portion1812. In some examples, the drug can be coated on an interior side ofthe substrate 1803 in the area identified as the first portion 1812. Insome examples, the drug can be coated on both the interior and exteriorsides of the substrate 1803. In some examples, different drugs orcombinations of drugs can be coated on the interior and exterior sidesof the substrate 1803.

In some examples, the rolled sheet 1802 can further include a thirdelectrode 1816 extending laterally (X) across the rolled sheet 1802 at athird longitudinal location 1818, so that the second electrode 1808 ispositioned longitudinally between the first and third electrodes 1804,1816. The third electrode 1816 can have an electrical resistance smallenough to conduct current laterally (X) along the rolled sheet 1802without heating the rolled sheet 1802. The third electrode 1816 can alsobe formed as a thick portion of the rolled sheet 1802, or formedseparately from the rolled sheet 1802 and attached to the rolled sheet1802.

In some examples, the rolled sheet 1802 can further include a secondsubstrate portion 1820 extending longitudinally (Z) between the secondand third electrodes 1808, 1816. The second substrate portion 1820 canhave an electrical resistance high enough to conduct currentlongitudinally (Z) between the second and third electrodes 1808, 1816and resistively heat the second substrate portion 1820 in response tothe current conducted therethrough.

A second dose 1822 of the drug can be disposed on the second substrateportion 1820 and configured to volatilize into a gas in response to theresistive heating of the second substrate portion 1820. In someexamples, the first and second doses 1814, 1822 include doses of thesame drug. In other examples, the first and second doses 1814, 1822include doses of different drugs.

In some examples, the rolled sheet can include more than threeelectrodes, with a corresponding substrate portion between each pair ofadjacent electrodes, and a drug dose disposed on each substrate portionof the substrate 1803. As described below in reference to FIGS. 22 and23, a controller can be used to regulate how and when the drug doses aredelivered to an individual.

FIG. 19 shows a cross-section of the rolled sheet 1802 of FIG. 18. Inthis example, the substrate 1803 is rolled to form a cylindricalstructure having a spiral cross-section, when viewed from the firstlongitudinal end 1826 (FIG. 18) of the rolled sheet 1802. The first,second, and third electrodes are omitted from FIG. 19 for clarity.

FIG. 20 shows the cross-section of the rolled sheet 1802 from FIG. 19,with the addition of an optional plurality of electrically insulatingspacers 2024 positioned to space apart adjacent layers of the substrate1803. The spacers 2024 can be similar to the spacers described above inreference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. The electrically insulating spacers 2024can be positioned and spaced apart to allow a gaseous flow in theinterior of the rolled sheet 1802, along the longitudinal direction,from the first longitudinal end 1826 (FIG. 18) to the secondlongitudinal end 1828 (FIG. 18). The spacers 2024 can be added to thesubstrate 1803 prior to forming the rolled sheet 1802 or after therolled sheet 1802 is assembled.

In the examples of FIGS. 18-20, the substrate 1803 is rolled in anopen-ended manner to form the rolled sheet 1802, so that one of itslateral edges 2026 is disposed at the center of the rolled sheet 1802and the opposite lateral edge 2028 is disposed at the exterior of therolled sheet 1802. In other examples, the substrate 1803 can beassembled in a closed-ended manner, so that for some methods ofassembly, its lateral edges can be joined during assembly to form a tubeor other cylindrical structure.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a tube 2102, suitable for use as a drugdelivery cartridge in a drug delivery system. In the example of FIG. 21,the tube 2102 has a circular cross-section, when viewed from alongitudinal end 2126 of the tube 2102. The tube 2102 is formed of asubstrate 2103, and as described above, all or a portion of thesubstrate 2103 can be coated with one or more drugs. The tube 2102includes a first electrode 2104 at a first longitudinal location 2106, asecond electrode 2108 at a second longitudinal location 2110, a firstsubstrate portion 2112 extending longitudinally (Z) between the firstand second electrodes 2104, 2108, a first dose 2114 of a drug disposedon the first substrate portion 2112, a third electrode 2116 disposed ata third longitudinal location 2118, a second substrate portion 2120extending longitudinally (Z) between the second and third electrodes2108, 2116, and a second dose 2122 of a drug disposed on the secondsubstrate portion 2120. In some examples, only one side of the substrate2103 is coated with the one or more drugs such that the drug doses aredisposed on the exterior of the tube 2102 or the interior of the tube2102. In some examples, both sides of the substrate 2103 are coated withthe one or more drugs such that the drug doses are disposed on theinterior and exterior of the tube 2102.

In an example in which the cylindrical structure is a tube, like thetube 2102, the tube 2102 can be formed in at least the two waysdescribed herein. Other processes can alternatively or additionally beused to form the cylindrical structure. In a first process, the firstelectrode 2104 can be open and have a lateral dimension generally equalto a lateral dimension of the substrate 2103. The first electrode 2104can include a hinge, which can be generally located at a lateralmid-point on the first electrode 2104. It is recognized that the hingecan be at other lateral locations on the first electrode 2104, and morethan one hinge can be used. The first electrode 404 and the substrate2103 can be brought together such that the first and second lateral endsof each of the substrate 2103 and the electrode 2104 are generallyaligned. The first and second lateral ends of the substrate 2103 and theelectrode 2104 can then be connected together to form a closed, tubularstructure, with the electrode 2104 connected to an exteriorcircumference of the substrate 2103. Additional electrodes can similarlybe attached to the substrate 2103 to form a tube having multipleelectrodes at various longitudinal locations on the substrate 2103.

In a second process, the first electrode 2104 can be a closed-endstructure, having a generally circular shape; the substrate 2103 can beconverted into a tube by joining the first and second longitudinal endsof the substrate 2103. The converted substrate 2103 can then be insertedinto the circular electrode 2104 such that the electrode 2104 isconnected to an exterior circumference of the substrate 2103. If thetube 2102 is intended to have multiple electrodes, the convertedsubstrate 2103 can be separately inserted into each electrode, or themultiple electrodes can be longitudinally spaced from one another andthe converted substrate 2103 can be inserted into the multipleelectrodes in one step. In some examples, a support structure can beused to support the one or more electrodes as the converted substrate2103 is inserted into the one or more electrodes.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the drug deliverycartridge can have any suitable cross-section, such as spiral (FIGS.17-20), circular (FIG. 21), elliptical, rounded and elongated, square,star-shaped, regular and irregular polygonal, and so forth.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show an example of a drug delivery system 2200.

The drug delivery system 2200 can include a drug delivery cartridge2202, which can be similar to the rolled sheet 1802 (FIGS. 17-20) oralternatively can be a tube such as the tube 2102 (FIG. 21). The drugdelivery system 2200 can further include a housing 2230. FIG. 5 showsthe rolled sheet 2202 separate from the housing 2230, which is how thedrug delivery system 2200 can be arranged as sold or during storage.FIG. 23 shows the rolled sheet 2202 inserted into the housing 2230,which is how the drug delivery system 2200 can be arranged during use.

In some examples, the housing 2230 can be configured to be reusable, andthe rolled sheet 2202 can be configured to be disposable or recyclableafter the drug dosages have been delivered. In some of these examples,the rolled sheet 2202 can be packaged as a replaceable cartridge. Inother examples, the housing 2230 and rolled sheet 2202 can be packagedtogether, with one or both being configured to be disposable orrecyclable after the drug dosages have been delivered. In some examples,the housing 2230 can be elongated and can include a first longitudinalend configured to deliver the volatilized gas into a user's mouth.

The housing 2230 can be configured to receive the rolled sheet 2202within a cylindrical cavity 2232. The cylindrical cavity 2232 can beaccessed through an opening 2234 in the housing 2230. In some examples,such as the example of FIG. 22, the opening 2234 can face a user, duringuse. In some of these examples, the opening 2234 is configured todeliver the volatilized gas into a user's mouth. For these examples, thehousing 2230 can include an air filter 2236, attached to or madeintegral with the housing 2230, positioned on an opposite side of thecylindrical cavity 2232 as the opening 2234, and configured to filterair intake as air flows from outside the housing 2230, through airfilter 2236, toward the cylindrical cavity 2232. In other examples, theopening 2234 can face away from a user, during use. In these examples,the rolled sheet 2202 can optionally include an air filter. In someexamples, the cylindrical cavity 2232 and the rolled sheet 2202 can bekeyed, or can include one or more locating features that can ensure thatthe rolled sheet 2202 is inserted into the cylindrical cavity 2232 witha specified rotational orientation. The housing 2230 can be designed toreceive drug delivery cartridges having alternative shapes to thecylindrical design of the drug delivery cartridge 2200 by having thecavity 2232 in the housing 530 be sized and shaped to correspond to thesize and shape of the drug delivery cartridge.

The housing 2230 can include a first housing electrode 2238 around acircumference of the cylindrical cavity 2232 and facing inward towardthe cylindrical cavity 2232. The first housing electrode 2238 can bepositioned longitudinally to respectively contact the first electrode2204 of the rolled sheet 2202 when the rolled sheet 2202 is insertedinto the housing 2230. The first housing electrode 2238, as well asadditional housing electrodes, can be formed from stainless steel,aluminum, copper, or other suitable conductive materials.

The housing 2230 can include a second housing electrode 2240 around acircumference of the cylindrical cavity 2232 and facing inward towardthe cylindrical cavity 2232. The second housing electrode 2240 can bepositioned longitudinally to respectively contact the second electrode2208 of the rolled sheet 2202 when the rolled sheet 2202 is insertedinto the housing 2230. The first and second housing electrodes 2238,2240 can be configured to deliver current between the first and secondelectrodes 2204, 2208 of the rolled sheet 2202.

The housing 2230 can optionally include a third housing electrode 2242around a circumference of the cylindrical cavity 2232 and facing inwardtoward the cylindrical cavity 2232. The third housing electrode 2242 canbe positioned longitudinally to respectively contact the third electrode2216 of the rolled sheet 2202 when the rolled sheet 2202 is insertedinto the housing 2230. The second and third housing electrodes 2240,2242 can be configured to deliver current between the second and thirdelectrodes 2208, 2216 of the rolled sheet 2202.

In some examples, the rolled sheet 2202 and housing 2230 can includemore than three electrodes and housing electrodes, respectively. Forthese examples, each pair of adjacent housing electrodes can beconfigured to deliver current between a corresponding pair of adjacentelectrodes of the rolled sheet.

In some examples, a controller 2244 can be positioned in the housing2230. The controller 2244 can be configured to deliver current to thehousing electrodes 2238, 2240 and 2242. In some examples, the controllercan deliver current between the first and second housing electrodes2238, 2240 at a first time to provide a first dose of a drug to a user.In some examples, the controller 2244 can be further configured todeliver current between the second and third housing electrodes 2240,2242 at a second time, different from the first time, to provide asecond dose of the drug to the user. For drug delivery cartridges thatinclude multiple doses, the controller 2244 can be configured to delivercurrent between adjacent pairs of housing electrodes at sequential timesto provide a dose of the drug to a user at each sequential time. In someexamples, the controller 2244 can deliver current to multiple pairs ofhousing electrodes at the same time to deliver multiple doses to theuser with a single inhalation. By using a conductive substrate anddelivering current to the electrodes, the drug can be volatilized andinhaled by the user using room temperature instead of heated air.

In some examples, the controller 2244 can include one or more batteries.In some examples, the controller 2244 can be rechargeable. In someexamples, the controller 2244 can communicate with other electronicdevices, such as through short-range wireless communication. In someexamples, the controller 2244 can communicate with the Internet. In someof these examples, the controller 2244 can record a user's dosagehistory through wireless communication with another electronic device orthrough a web-based application. The controller 2244 can be triggeredthrough a button on the housing 2230, through a touch-sensitive area onthe housing configured to activate the controller 2244 when the 2230housing contacts a user's mouth, or through another suitable trigger.

During use, as a user inhales, such as through opening 2234, the usercan draw in air from the surroundings through the air filter 2236. Theair from the surroundings can combine with the dose of the drug releasedfrom the rolled sheet 2202 in an optional expansion/mixing chamber 2246.In some examples, the expansion/mixing chamber 2246 can be positionedbetween the rolled sheet 2202 and the user's mouth, during use.

After use, once the doses of the drug on the rolled sheet 2202 have beendispensed, the housing 2230 can eject or release the expended rolledsheet 2202. The expended rolled sheet 2202 can then be thrown away orrecycled. In some examples, the housing 2230 can optionally includestorage for one or more additional rolled sheets 2202.

FIG. 24 is a side-view schematic drawing of another example of a drugdelivery system 2400. The example of FIG. 24 is sized and shaped forease of use by a user. The drug delivery system 2400 can include ahousing 2402.

An air intake nozzle 2404 can receive air flow from the surroundings andcan optionally restrict the air flow into the housing 2402. In someexamples, the air intake nozzle 2404 can be adjustable. In someexamples, the air intake nozzle 2404 can allow a user to control therate at which the surrounding air is taken into the housing 2402. Insome examples, the air intake nozzle 2404 can control a duration of aninhalation. In some examples, the air intake nozzle 2404 can produce aninternal pipe pressure when the user inhales.

Air passing through the air intake nozzle 2404 can pass through an airfilter 2406. The air filter 2406 can prevent particles or particulatefrom entering further into the housing 2400. In some examples, the airfilter 2406 can be the same in structure and function as the air filter2236 (FIGS. 22 and 23).

Air passing through the air filter 2406 can enter a volatilizing chamber2408. In some examples, the volatilizing chamber 2408 can accommodateone or more drug delivery cartridges, such as 1802 (FIGS. 17 and 18),2102 (FIG. 21), or 2202 (FIGS. 22 and 23). An interior of thevolatilizing chamber 2408 can include electrodes that connect tocorresponding electrodes on a rolled sheet during use. Air leaving thevolatilizing chamber 2408 can include a prescribed dose of the drug,which is volatilized from the cartridge during use.

A vortex chamber 2410 can reduce a cross-section surface area of gaspassing therethrough. The reduced surface area can increase the velocityof gas passing therethrough, which can be desirable.

Gas leaving the vortex chamber 2410 can pass through a misting ring2412, which can optionally inject mist into the gas. In some examples,the mist can include water. In some examples, the mist can include oneor more flavorings or scents. In some examples, the misting ring 2412can be activated by a controller, such as 2244 (FIGS. 22 and 23).

Gas leaving the misting ring 2412 can enter a mixing chamber 2414. Thegas, moving with an increased velocity from the vortex chamber 2410, canexpand within the mixing chamber 2414. This expansion can form a vortex,which can improve mixing of the mist with the gas.

Gas from the mixing chamber 2414 can exit the housing 2402 through amouthpiece 2416. In some examples, the mouthpiece 2416 is removable fromthe housing 2402. A removable mouthpiece 2416 can help ensure sterilityfor the user. In other examples, the mouthpiece 2416 can be attached toand non-removable from the housing 2402.

The housing 2402 can include an optional status indicator, which candisplay visual indicia that indicate a status of the housing during use.In the example of FIG. 24, the status indicator can include three lightemitting diodes (LEDs) radiating outward from the housing 2402. This isbut one example of a status indicator; other suitable examples can alsobe used.

In the specific example of FIG. 24, each LED 2418 corresponds to ahousing electrode and a corresponding electrode on the rolled sheet. Inthe specific example of FIG. 24, when the cartridge is inserted into thevolatilizing chamber 2408, the controller can sense a voltage dropacross adjacent pairs of electrodes, and can direct corresponding LEDs2418 to glow red. In this example, a red color indicates that acorresponding dose on the rolled sheet is ready to be volatilized. Inthis example, a user can depress a button 2420 on the housing 2402,which can instruct the housing to direct current through a correspondingportion of the substrate. In the specific example of FIG. 24, when theuser depressed the button for the first time, for a particular rolledsheet, corresponding LEDs can alternately blink red and green. In aspecific example, blinking red and green can indicate that thecontroller is heating a selected dose on the rolled sheet. In someexamples, the heating can take a relatively short period of time, suchas two seconds. In some examples, when a dose is ready to bevolatilized, a corresponding LED can turn solid green. In some examples,when a user depresses the button 2420 for a second time, the controllercan monitor an internal pressure, such as in the volatilizing chamber2408 or the mixing chamber 2414. In some examples, the controller caninclude a pressure sensor that detects a drop in pressure. When thepressure drops, corresponding to an inhalation by the user, thecontroller can volatilize the corresponding drug dose on the rolledsheet. In some examples, the pressure sensor can provide a rate at whichthe drug is being depleted to the controller. In some examples, one ormore LEDs can blink at a rate indicative of the rate at which the drugis depleted. In some examples, when the controller determines that adose of the drug is fully dispensed, one of more LEDs can turn off

In other examples, more or less than the three LEDs 2418 can be used inthe housing 2402. The LEDs as described above are but one specificexample of a status indicator; other status indicators can also be used.

There can be potential advantages to delivering the drug using the drugdelivery cartridges described herein. For instance, the drug dosage andpurity can be accurately controlled during the manufacturing process. Insome examples, an advantage can include allowing a user to ingest THCand CBD in a safe, repeatable accurate dose suitable for research andclinical trials. In some examples, an advantage can include forming thecartridge from recyclable aluminum. In some examples, an advantage caninclude depositing the THC/CBD drugs onto the aluminum substrate in acarefully controlled and regulated process, transported to the user. Insome examples, an advantage can include removing the toxins duringfactory processing and disposing of the toxins properly. In someexamples, an advantage can include recycling the cartridge, with nowaste. In some examples, an advantage can include convenience for theuser, and lack of smoke when used. In some examples, an advantage caninclude disposing multiple doses on a single cartridge, which furtherenhances convenience, functionality as well as lowering shipping cost.In some examples, an advantage can include the flexibility in accuratelysetting a dose level, which can provide functionality to both users andresearchers alike. In some examples, an advantage can include optionallyadding a moisturizing mist, and perhaps a pleasant flavor, whichimproves the overall experience and comfort for the user.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred toherein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition tothose shown or described. However, the present inventor alsocontemplates examples in which only those elements shown or describedare provided. Moreover, the present inventor also contemplates examplesusing any combination or permutation of those elements shown ordescribed (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to aparticular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect toother examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or describedherein.

All publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in thisdocument are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, asthough individually incorporated by reference. In the event ofinconsistent usages between this document and those documents soincorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s)should be considered supplementary to that of this document; forirreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listedafter such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scopeof that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,”“second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are notintended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to complywith 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain thenature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scopeor meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description,various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure.This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosedfeature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter maylie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment.Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combinedwith each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope ofthe invention should be determined with reference to the appendedclaims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claimsare entitled.

The present application provides for the following exemplaryembodiments, the numbering of which is not to be construed asdesignating levels of importance:

Embodiment 1 provides an apparatus including a cylindrical structureextending in a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of anelectrically conductive material. The cylindrical structure can includefirst and second electrodes extending laterally on the substrate atrespective first and second longitudinal locations, the first and secondelectrodes each having an electrical resistance sufficient to conductcurrent laterally along the substrate without heating the cylindricalstructure, and a first substrate portion extending longitudinallybetween the first and second electrodes, the first substrate portionhaving an electrical resistance high enough to conduct currentlongitudinally between the first and second electrodes and resistivelyheat the first substrate portion in response to the current conductedtherethrough. The cylindrical structure can also include a first dose ofa drug disposed on the first substrate portion and configured tovolatilize into a gas in response to the resistive heating of the firstsubstrate portion.

Embodiment 2 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 1 optionallyconfigured such that the substrate is rolled to form the cylindricalstructure having a spiral cross-section, when viewed from a longitudinalend of the rolled sheet, and can optionally further comprise a pluralityof electrically insulating spacers positioned to space apart adjacentlayers of the substrate.

Embodiment 3 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 2 optionallyconfigured such that the first and second electrodes are attached to thesubstrate prior to rolling the substrate to form the cylindricalstructure.

Embodiment 4 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 1-3 optionallyfurther comprising a housing configured to receive the cylindricalstructure within a cavity in the housing, the cavity sized and shaped tocorrespond to the cylindrical structure, the housing having first andsecond housing electrodes around a circumference of the cavity andfacing inward toward the cavity. The first and second housing electrodescan be positioned longitudinally to respectively contact the first andsecond electrodes of the cylindrical structure when the cylindricalstructure is inserted into the housing, and the first and second housingelectrodes can be configured to deliver current between the first andsecond electrodes of the cylindrical structure.

Embodiment 5 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 1-4 optionallyconfigured such that the cylindrical structure further includes a thirdelectrode extending laterally across the cylindrical structure at athird longitudinal location, so that the second electrode is positionedlongitudinally between the first and third electrodes; and the thirdelectrode has an electrical resistance small enough to conduct currentlaterally along the cylindrical structure without heating thecylindrical structure. The cylindrical structure further includes asecond substrate portion extending longitudinally between the second andthird electrodes; and the second substrate portion has an electricalresistance sufficient to conduct current longitudinally between thesecond and third electrodes and resistively heat the second substrateportion in response to the current conducted therethrough. A second doseof the drug can be disposed on the second substrate portion andconfigured to volatilize into a gas in response to the resistive heatingof the second substrate portion.

Embodiment 6 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 5 optionally furthercomprising a housing configured to receive the cylindrical structurewithin a cavity in the housing, the cavity sized and shaped tocorrespond to the cylindrical structure, the housing having first,second, and third housing electrodes around a circumference of thecavity and facing inward toward the cavity, the first, second, and thirdhousing electrodes being positioned longitudinally to respectivelycontact the first, second, and third electrodes of the cylindricalstructure when the cylindrical structure is inserted into the housing,the first and second housing electrodes configured to deliver currentbetween the first and second electrodes of the cylindrical structure,and the second and third housing electrodes configured to delivercurrent between the second and third electrodes of the cylindricalstructure.

Embodiment 7 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 6 optionally furthercomprising a controller positioned in the housing and configured todeliver current between the first and second housing electrodes toprovide the first dose of the drug to a patient, and further configuredto deliver current between the second and third housing electrodes toprovide the second dose of the drug to the patient.

Embodiment 8 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 7 optionallyconfigured such that the controller delivers current between the firstand second housing electrodes at a first time to provide the first doseof the drug to a user and delivers current between the second and thirdhousing electrodes at a second time, different from the first time, toprovide the second dose of the drug to the user.

Embodiment 9 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 7 optionallyconfigured such that the controller delivers current between the firstand second housing electrodes and simultaneously delivers currentbetween the second and third housing electrodes to provide the first andsecond doses of the drug to the user at the same time.

Embodiment 10 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 6-9optionally configured such that the housing is elongated and includes afirst longitudinal end configured to deliver the volatilized gas into auser's mouth.

Embodiment 11 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 1-10optionally configured such that the drug includes at least one oftetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD).

Embodiment 12 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 1-11optionally configured such that the first and second electrodes areformed integrally with the substrate and are thicker than the firstsubstrate portion.

Embodiment 13 provides an apparatus including a cylindrical structureextending in a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of anelectrically conductive material. The cylindrical structure can includea plurality of electrodes extending laterally on the substrate atrespective longitudinal locations, each electrode in the pluralityhaving an electrical resistance sufficient to conduct current laterallyalong the substrate without heating the cylindrical structure. Thecylindrical structure can include at least one substrate portionextending longitudinally between the adjacent electrodes in theplurality, each substrate portion having an electrical resistancesufficient to conduct current longitudinally between the adjacentelectrodes and resistively heat the substrate portion in response to thecurrent conducted therethrough. The cylindrical structure can include adrug disposed on each substrate portion and configured to volatilizeinto a gas in response to the resistive heating of the substrate portion

Embodiment 14 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 13 optionallyconfigured such that the substrate is rolled to form the cylindricalstructure having a spiral cross-section, when viewed from a longitudinalend of the rolled sheet, and optionally further comprising a pluralityof electrically insulating spacers positioned to space apart adjacentlayers of the substrate.

Embodiment 15 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 14 optionallyconfigured such that the first and second electrodes are attached to thesubstrate prior to rolling the substrate to form the cylindricalstructure.

Embodiment 16 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 13-15optionally configured such that a first lateral end of the substrate isconnected to a second lateral end of the substrate to form thecylindrical structure having a tubular shape, and each of the pluralityof electrodes extend around an exterior circumference of the tubularshape.

Embodiment 17 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 13-16optionally further comprising a housing configured to receive thecylindrical structure within a cavity sized and shaped to receive thecylindrical structure, the housing having a plurality of housingelectrodes around a circumference of the cavity and facing inward towardthe cavity, each housing electrode being positioned longitudinally torespectively contact a respective electrode of the cylindrical structurewhen the cylindrical structure is inserted into the housing. Each pairof adjacent housing electrodes can be configured to deliver currentbetween a corresponding pair of adjacent electrodes of the cylindricalstructure.

Embodiment 18 provides the apparatus of Embodiment 17 optionally furthercomprising a controller positioned in the housing and configured todeliver current between adjacent pairs of housing electrodes atsequential times to provide a dose of the drug to a user at eachsequential time, or deliver current between adjacent pairs of housingelectrodes simultaneously to provide more than one dose of the drug tothe user at one time.

Embodiment 19 provides the apparatus of any of Embodiments 13-18optionally configured such that the drug includes at least one of THC orCBD.

Embodiment 20 provides a method including forming or providing a sheetof conductive material, the sheet extending in longitudinal and lateraldimensions, the sheet having a plurality of contact portions spacedapart longitudinally and extending laterally across the sheet, the sheethaving at least one substrate portion extending longitudinally between apair of adjacent contact portions, the contact portions having athickness greater than a thickness of the at least one substrateportion. The method including depositing a drug on the at least onesubstrate portion, the drug configured to volatilize into a gas inresponse to resistive heating of the respective substrate portion, andconverting the sheet into a cylindrical structure.

Embodiment 21 provides the method of Embodiment 20 optionally configuredsuch that converting the sheet into a cylindrical structure includesrolling the sheet such that the cylindrical structure has a spiralcross-section, when viewed from a longitudinal end of the rolled sheet.The method can optionally further comprise, as the sheet is rolled,placing a plurality of electrically insulating spacers between adjacentlayers of the sheet, the spacers being spaced apart to allow a flow ofgas therearound.

Embodiment 22 provides the method of Embodiment 20 or 21 optionallyconfigured such that converting the sheet into a cylindrical structureincludes connecting a first lateral end of the sheet to a second lateralend of the sheet to form the cylindrical structure having a tubularshape, and each of the plurality of contact portions extends around acircumference of the tubular shape.

Embodiment 23 provides the method of any of Embodiments 20-22 optionallyconfigured such that the cylindrical structure is configured for use asa drug delivery cartridge.

Embodiment 24 provides the method of any of Embodiments 20-23 whereinthe drug includes at least one of THC or CBD.

Embodiment 25 provides a method or apparatus of any one or anycombination of Embodiments 1-24, which can be optionally configured suchthat all steps or elements recited are available to use or select from.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a cylindrical structureextending in a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of anelectrically conductive material, the cylindrical structure having aspiral cross-section and formed by rolling the substrate, thecylindrical structure comprising: first and second electrodes extendinglaterally on the substrate at respective first and second longitudinallocations, the first and second electrodes each having an electricalresistance sufficient to conduct current laterally along the substratewithout heating the cylindrical structure; a first substrate portionextending longitudinally between the first and second electrodes, thefirst substrate portion having an electrical resistance high enough toconduct current longitudinally between the first and second electrodesand resistively heat the first substrate portion in response to thecurrent conducted therethrough; a first dose of a drug disposed on thefirst substrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas inresponse to the resistive heating of the first substrate portion; and aplurality of electrically insulating spacers positioned to space apartadjacent layers of the substrate.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first and second electrodes are attached to the substrate prior torolling the substrate to form the cylindrical structure.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a housing configured toreceive the cylindrical structure within a cavity in the housing, thecavity sized and shaped to correspond to the cylindrical structure, thehousing having first and second housing electrodes around acircumference of the cavity and facing inward toward the cavity, thefirst and second housing electrodes being positioned longitudinally torespectively contact the first and second electrodes of the cylindricalstructure when the cylindrical structure is inserted into the housing,the first and second housing electrodes configured to deliver currentbetween the first and second electrodes of the cylindrical structure. 4.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical structure furtherincludes a third electrode extending laterally across the cylindricalstructure at a third longitudinal location, so that the second electrodeis positioned longitudinally between the first and third electrodes;wherein the third electrode has an electrical resistance small enough toconduct current laterally along the cylindrical structure withoutheating the cylindrical structure, wherein the cylindrical structurefurther includes a second substrate portion extending longitudinallybetween the second and third electrodes; wherein the second substrateportion has an electrical resistance sufficient to conduct currentlongitudinally between the second and third electrodes and resistivelyheat the second substrate portion in response to the current conductedtherethrough; and wherein a second dose of the drug is disposed on thesecond substrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas inresponse to the resistive heating of the second substrate portion. 5.The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a housing configured toreceive the cylindrical structure within a cavity in the housing, thecavity sized and shaped to correspond to the cylindrical structure, thehousing having first, second, and third housing electrodes around acircumference of the cavity and facing inward toward the cavity, thefirst, second, and third housing electrodes being positionedlongitudinally to respectively contact the first, second, and thirdelectrodes of the cylindrical structure when the cylindrical structureis inserted into the housing, the first and second housing electrodesconfigured to deliver current between the first and second electrodes ofthe cylindrical structure, the second and third housing electrodesconfigured to deliver current between the second and third electrodes ofthe cylindrical structure.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, furthercomprising: a controller positioned in the housing and configured todeliver current between the first and second housing electrodes toprovide the first dose of the drug to a patient, and further configuredto deliver current between the second and third housing electrodes toprovide the second dose of the drug to the patient.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the controller delivers current between the first andsecond housing electrodes at a first time to provide the first dose ofthe drug to a user and delivers current between the second and thirdhousing electrodes at a second time, different from the first time, toprovide the second dose of the drug to the user.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the controller delivers current between the first andsecond housing electrodes and simultaneously delivers current betweenthe second and third housing electrodes to provide the first and seconddoses of the drug to the user at the same time.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the housing is elongated and includes a firstlongitudinal end configured to deliver the volatilized gas into a user'smouth.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drug includes at leastone of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD).
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are formedintegrally with the substrate and are thicker than the first substrateportion.
 12. An apparatus, comprising: a cylindrical structure extendingin a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of anelectrically conductive material, the cylindrical structure having aspiral cross-section and formed by rolling the substrate, thecylindrical structure comprising: a plurality of electrodes extendinglaterally on the substrate at respective longitudinal locations, eachelectrode in the plurality having an electrical resistance sufficient toconduct current laterally along the substrate without heating thecylindrical structure; at least one substrate portion extendinglongitudinally between the adjacent electrodes in the plurality, eachsubstrate portion having an electrical resistance sufficient to conductcurrent longitudinally between the adjacent electrodes and resistivelyheat the substrate portion in response to the current conductedtherethrough; a drug disposed on each substrate portion and configuredto volatilize into a gas in response to the resistive heating of thesubstrate portion; and a plurality of electrically insulating spacerspositioned to space apart adjacent layers of the substrate.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a housing configured toreceive the cylindrical structure within a cavity sized and shaped toreceive the cylindrical structure, the housing having a plurality ofhousing electrodes around a circumference of the cavity and facinginward toward the cavity, each housing electrode being positionedlongitudinally to respectively contact a respective electrode of thecylindrical structure when the cylindrical structure is inserted intothe housing, each pair of adjacent housing electrodes configured todeliver current between a corresponding pair of adjacent electrodes ofthe cylindrical structure.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, furthercomprising: a controller positioned in the housing and configured todeliver current between adjacent pairs of housing electrodes atsequential times to provide a dose of the drug to a user at eachsequential time, or deliver current between adjacent pairs of housingelectrodes simultaneously to provide more than one dose of the drug tothe user at one time.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the drugincludes at least one of THC or CBD.
 16. A system comprising: acylindrical structure extending in a longitudinal direction and formedfrom a substrate of an electrically conductive material, the cylindricalstructure comprising: first and second electrodes extending laterally onthe substrate at respective first and second longitudinal locations, thefirst and second electrodes each having an electrical resistancesufficient to conduct current laterally along the substrate withoutheating the cylindrical structure; a first substrate portion extendinglongitudinally between the first and second electrodes, the firstsubstrate portion having an electrical resistance high enough to conductcurrent longitudinally between the first and second electrodes andresistively heat the first substrate portion in response to the currentconducted therethrough; and a first dose of a drug disposed on the firstsubstrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas in response tothe resistive heating of the first substrate portion; and a housingconfigured to receive the cylindrical structure within a cavity in thehousing, the cavity sized and shaped to correspond to the cylindricalstructure, the housing having first and second housing electrodes arounda circumference of the cavity and facing inward toward the cavity, thefirst and second housing electrodes being positioned longitudinally torespectively contact the first and second electrodes of the cylindricalstructure when the cylindrical structure is inserted into the housing,the first and second housing electrodes configured to deliver currentbetween the first and second electrodes of the cylindrical structure.17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: a controller positionedin the housing and configured to deliver current between the first andsecond housing electrodes to provide the first dose of the drug to apatient.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the cylindrical structurefurther includes a third electrode extending laterally across thecylindrical structure at a third longitudinal location, so that thesecond electrode is positioned longitudinally between the first andthird electrodes; wherein the third electrode has an electricalresistance small enough to conduct current laterally along thecylindrical structure without heating the cylindrical structure, whereinthe cylindrical structure further includes a second substrate portionextending longitudinally between the second and third electrodes;wherein the second substrate portion has an electrical resistancesufficient to conduct current longitudinally between the second andthird electrodes and resistively heat the second substrate portion inresponse to the current conducted therethrough; and wherein a seconddose of the drug is disposed on the second substrate portion andconfigured to volatilize into a gas in response to the resistive heatingof the second substrate portion.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein thehousing comprises a third housing electrode to repespectively contactthe third electrode of the cylindrical structure when the cylindricalstructure is inserted into the housing.
 20. The system of claim 19,further comprising: a controller positioned in the housing andconfigured to deliver current between the first and second housingelectrodes to provide the first dose of the drug to a patient, andfurther configured to deliver current between the second and thirdhousing electrodes to provide the second dose of the drug to thepatient.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller deliverscurrent between the first and second housing electrodes at a first timeto provide the first dose of the drug to a user and delivers currentbetween the second and third housing electrodes at a second time,different from the first time, to provide the second dose of the drug tothe user.
 22. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller deliverscurrent between the first and second housing electrodes andsimultaneously delivers current between the second and third housingelectrodes to provide the first and second doses of the drug to the userat the same time.
 23. An apparatus comprising: a cylindrical structureextending in a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of anelectrically conductive material, the substrate having a first lateraledge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge, thecylindrical structure having a spiral cross-section formed by rollingthe substrate, the first lateral edge disposed at a center of thecylindrical structure and the second lateral edge disposed at anexterior of the cylindrical structure, the cylindrical structurecomprising: first and second electrodes extending laterally on a firstside of the substrate at respective first and second longitudinallocations, the first and second electrodes each having an electricalresistance sufficient to conduct current laterally along the substratewithout heating the cylindrical structure; a first substrate portionextending longitudinally between the first and second electrodes on asecond side of the substrate opposite the first side, the firstsubstrate portion having an electrical resistance high enough to conductcurrent longitudinally between the first and second electrodes andresistively heat the first substrate portion in response to the currentconducted therethrough; and a first dose of a drug disposed on the firstsubstrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas in response tothe resistive heating of the first substrate portion.
 24. The apparatusof claim 23, the cylindrical structure comprising: a third electrodeextending laterally on the first side of the substrate, the thirdelectrode having an electrical resistance sufficient to conduct currentlaterally along the substrate without heating the cylindrical structure;a second substrate portion extending longitudinally between the secondand third electrodes on the second side of the substrate, the secondsubstrate portion having an electrical resistance high enough to conductcurrent longitudinally between the second and third electrodes andresistively heat the second substrate portion in response to the currentconducted therethrough; and a second dose of the drug disposed on thesecond substrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas inresponse to the resistive heating of the second substrate portion. 25.The apparatus of claim 23, the cylindrical structure comprising: aplurality of electrically insulating spacers positioned to space apartadjacent layers of the substrate.